French’s  International  Copyrighted  (in  England,  her 
Colonies,  and  the  United  States)  Edition  of 
the  Works  of  the  Best  Authors. 


No.  265 


THE  PERRY  BOYS 


a “Social  Centcc®1bl6toricar'  ®las 
in  Cbrcc  Scenes 


FOR 


HAROLD  STRONG  LATHAM 


Author  of  Little  RebeP' 


Copyright,  1913,  by  Samuel  French 


NOTICE.— The  Professional  acting  rights  of  this  play  are  reserved 
by  the  publisher,  and  permission  for  such  performances  must 
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not  apply  to  amateurs,  who  may  perform  the  play  without 
permission.  All  unauthorized  professional  productions  will 
be  prosecuted  to  the  full  extent  of  the  laW#  ^ 


London 
L./FRENCH,  Ltd. 
26  Southampton  St., 
STRAND 


Vil 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 
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THE  PERRY  BOYS 


U “Social  CcntccsWigtorfcal'*  plas 

IN  3 SCENES 

FOR  10  BOYS 


BT 

HAROLD  STRONG  LATHAM 

Author  of  Little  Rebel  ** 


Copyright,  1913,  by  Samuel  French 


N0T1CE.<-The  Professional  acting  rights  sf  this  play  are  reserved  by 
the  publisher,  and  permission  for  such  performances  must  be  ob- 
tained before  performances  are  given.  This  notice  does  not  apply 
to  amateurs,  who  may  perform  the  play  without  permission.  All 
unauthorized  professional  productions  will  be  prosecuted  to  the 
lull  extent  of  the  law* 


London 

SAMUEL  FRENCH,  Ltd. 
26  Southampton  Street 
STRAND 


New  York 

SAMUEL  FRENCH 

PUBLISHER 

28-30  West  38th  Street 


THE  PERRY  BOYS. 

SYNOPSIS. 

Scene  I.  The  new  quarters  of  a recently  formed 
boys'  club. 

Time. — The  Present, 

“FINDING  THE  SHIP.” 

Scene  II.  A Day  with  Perry.  A part  of  the  en- 
tertainment which  “ The  Perry  Boys  Club  ” 
gives.  The  scene  represents  a temporary  camp 
on  the  shores  of  Lake  Erie. 

J'lME. — Early  spring,  1813. 

“ LAUNCHING  THE  SHIP.’^ 

Scene  HI.  Same  as  Scene  I. 

“THE  ENEMY  IS  OURS.” 

(For  settings,  see  descriptions  at  beginning  of 
each  scene.) 

CHARACTERS. 

Wallace The  President  of  the  club 

Alfred ......The  Secretary  of  the  club 

Compton  \ 

Fletcher  I 
Thomas  [ 

Robert  > The  members  of  the  club 

Steven  ( 

Jimmie  I 
Herbert  / 

Mickie Of  the  “downtown  gang." 


3 


THE  PERRY  BOYS. 

NOTE;— In  Scene  II,  the  parts  of  Perry  and  his 
aides  are  assumed  by  the  characters  of  the  first 
scene.  With  the  exception  of  Perry  the  names  of 
the  first  scene  are  retained.  This  arrangement  pro- 
vides for  the  playing  of  Perry  by  Herbert.  The 
play  may  be  made  local  by  the  substitution  of  the 
name  of  the  place  where  it  is  presented,  for  Ar- 
lington. It  may  be  kept  lip  to  date  by  revising 
the  year  references. 

COSTUMES. 

Scenes  I and  III 

All  of  the  -boys  with  the  exception  of  Mickiei 
appear  in  the  conventional  clothes  of  the  modern 
boy.  Mickie  should  be  dressed  very  shabbily. 

Scene  II 


Perry  Follow  more  or  less  closely  tlie  uni- 
form  shown  in  pictures  of  Perry.  In  general  this 
is  as  follows;— Long-tailed  cut-away  coat  of  dark 
blue  cloth  with  large  gilt  buttons.  Flaring  white 
collar  Blue  scarf.  White  waistcoat.  _ White  shirt 
with  ruffle  down  front.  Long  white  trousers. 

Soiled  overalls.  Soft  checked  shirt. 

Slouch  hat. 


all  of  the  others. 


Short  plain  single  breasted  jacket  coming  to 
the  waist,  made  of  dark  blue  cloth,  large  gilt  but- 
tons. White  shirt  with  ruffles  down  the  front. 
Long  white  trousers.  Blue  sailor  hat  with  white 
band. 


THE  PERRY  BOYS 


SCENE  I. 

" FINDING  THE  SHIP/^ 

Scene  I. — The  new  quarters  of  a recently  formed 
boys^  club.  Walls  undecorated.  Furniture, 
banners,  pictures  and  other  decorations  piled 
still  in  their  wrappings  in  a heterogeneous  mass 
in  the  center  of  the  roam,  just  as  the  movers 
deposited  them.  All  during  the  progress  of 
the  scene  the  boys,  as  they  talk,  are  straight- 
ening things  up,  so  that  in  the  end  the  room 
is  attractive.  This  bringing  of  order  out  of 
. chaos  may  be  made  very  effective  if  the  boys 
have  been  properly  drilled  in  the  placing  of  each 
article  and  in  the  hanging  of  the  pennants  and 
other  decorations.  The^  furnishings  should 
consist  of  chairs,  several  plain  and  several 
rockers,  a table  with  books,  a couch,  a step- 
ladder,  plenty  of  college  pennants,  including  a 
Yale  and  a Cornell,  etc.,  etc.  The  furniture 
may  be  pinned  up  in  sheets,  the  unpinning  of 
which  zvill  give  the  appearance  of  unpacking, 
and  still  be  noiseless. 

There  is  needed  also  for  this  scene  a special  ban-- 
ner  with  the  words  Don* t Give  Up  the  Ship  ** 
on  it.  This  should  be  about  two  yards  long 
by  thirty  inches  wide.  It  should  be  made  of 
a dark  blue  cloth,  (Galatea,  suitable)  with  the 
letters,  six  inches  high,  in  white. 

5 


6 


perry  boys. 


Alfred  should  his  for  m 

the  scene.  At  ' * ' ' i ^ Wallace, 

Herbert,  Alfred,  Flet- 

cher, TijcJtL^s,  Robert  and  Steven  are  on  the 
stage  each  one  busying  himself  with  the  un- 
packing and  straightening  up. 

Alfred,  (from  the  top  of  the  stepladder  and 
holding  up  a college  banner)  Say,  fellows  where'll 
we  put  this? 

Steven.  What  is  it?  Oh  Yale!  Well,  if  you 
take  my  advice,  you'll  hang  it  face,  to  the  wall. 

Thomas.  Good.  That's  what  I say  too. 

Fletcher.  Humph!  Is  that  sol  Much  you 
know  about  Yale  to  be  talking  that  way. 

Compton,  (displaying  Cornell  banner)  I sup- 
pose this  one  suits  you  better,  doesn't  it,  Wallie? 

Wallace.  It  sure  does.  Yale  gets  my  goat. 

Robert.  Too  bad  about  your  g ^ 

Herbert.  For  the  love  of  Mike,  fellows,  quit  ; 
your  squabbling  over  colleges  and  keep  busy.  It'sl 
a dead  sure  thing  we'll  never  get  settled  if  we  go| 
on  this  way. 

Jimmie.  Right  yo-u  are. 

Fletcher.  Seems  to  me  we  ought  to  get  a name^ 
Here  we  are  a club  ih  everything  but  a name.  Gee, 
that's  a queer  beginning.  Every  club  has  to  stand 
for  something. 

Wallace.  I think  we  stand  for  something,  but 
what  to  call  it,  that's  the  trouble. 

Jimmie.  What  do  we  stand  for,  seeing  you 
know,  tell  me. 

Wallace.  We're  going  to  try  to  do  things,  not 
be  just  the  ordinary  kind  of  club  for  a good  time. 
You  know  that  club  of  boys  in  Nutley  that  cleaned 
up  the  town,  all  the  rubbish  and  stuff,  and  they 
keep  it  clean  too,  and  make  people  answer  for 
it  if  they  throw  litter  around  the  streets.  And 
then  there's  that  club  in  Forest  Hill  that  helped  a 


In 


THE  PERRY  BOYS. 


7 


lot  in  the  mosquito  fight,  doing  away  with  pools 
of  water  and  other  breeding  places.  The  fellows 
in  these  clubs  are  just  about  our  ages  and  we 
thought  we’d  show  Arlington  what  we  could  do. 

Compton.  Oh  we  all  know  that  and  how  we 
got  our  fathers  to  rent  this  room  for  our  meet- 
ings and  to  give  us  the  furniture,  but  the  thing  is, 
what  are  we  going  to  do  and  what  are  we  going  to 
call  ourselves  ? 

Alfred.  I think  I can  help  out  on  the  lak  ques- 
tion. I was  going  to  wait  until  we  v^ere  all  straight- 
ened up  and  had  a business  meeting,  but  this  seems 
to  be  something  like  one  now.  I’ve  got  in  my 
pocket  a letter  from  Mr.  Robinson.  He’s  the  man 
in  charge  of  the  playground  up  the  street,  you 
know,  and  he’s  been  interested  a lot  in  our  club  and 
sort  of  urged  us  on.  Shall  I read  it  now? 

(Chorus  of  Yesr  Surer  etc.) 

Alfred,  (takes  letter  from  pocket  and  reads) 
Dear  Fred  and  all  the  rest:  I am  glad  the  duo 

is  going  through.  I like  such  things  and  wish  I 
could  be  with  you  on  your  first  day,  but  I can’t 
and  so  I’m  writing  you  instead.  I have  a sugges- 
tion to  make  with  regard  to  the  organization.  If 
I understand  your  purpose  correctly  you  want  to 
accomplish  something  for  the  town.  You  think 
that  all  the  old  people  are  working  and  you  want 
to,  too,  just  for  the  fun  of  it.  Fine  idea!  If  more 
things  were  done  just  for  the  fun  of  it,  lots  more 
would  be  accomplished  than  is  now.  Well,  I don’t 
know  what  you  are  planning  to  do.  There  are 
enough  things  that  you  could  do,  and  you’ll  find 
one  that  will  appeal  to  you,  if  you  keep  your  eyes 
open.  But  this  I want  particularly  to  say : — DON’T 
GIVE  UP.  STICK  TO  WHAT  YOU  START. 
There  is  too  much  shifting  already. 

Oliver  Hazard  Perry  has  always  been  my  hero. 


8 


THE  PERRY  BOYS. 


When  I think  of  him,  building  that  wonderful  fleet  I 
way  off  there  on  the  lonesome  shores  of  Lake  Erie,  | 
building  it  out  of  the  trees  of  the  forest  with  un-  I 
skilled  labor  and  amid  untold  hardships,  but  build-  | 
ing  it  nevertheless  with  a terrific  determination,  i 
and  all  that  he  might  pursue  a course  which  he  felt  " 
to  be  right,  I am  moved  to  a tremendous  admira- 
tion.  DONT  GIVE  UP  THE  SHIP,’’  he  said,  j 
Stick  to  your  posts  until  there  is  no  post  to  stick  to,  ^ 
he  meant.  And  so  I make  this  suggestion — that  '4 
you  call  yourselves  THE  PERRY  BOYS  CLUB—  ; 
the  P.  B.  C. — and  that  your  motto  be  DON’T  GIVE 
UP  THE  SHIP.  First  find  a ship.  Then  learn  | 
to  run  it,  that  you  may  weather  any  gale  and  : 
don't  give  it  up. 

I am  sending  you  a banner  for  your  new  club-  J 

room.  1 

Yours  very  sincerely, 

E.  S.  ROBINSON.  j 

Fletcher.  I like  that  Perry  Boys  name.  I | 
move  we  adopt  it.  | 

{Cries  of  Ayer  ''Aye/')  ] 

Wallace.  As  president,  I will  put  the  motion.  I 

Those  who  favor  calling  the  club  The  Perry  Boys  'i 
Club  will  please  say  ‘‘  aye.’^  ^ 

All.  Aye.  I 

Wallace.  Those  opposed.  ^ 

{Silence.)  ^ 

Wallace.  It  is  unanimously  carried.  | 

Jimmie.  Say,  Fred,  where’s  the  banner  Mn  | 

Robinson  said  he  was  sending?  | 

Alfred.  It  hasn’t  come  yet.  I 

Thomas.  I propose  three  cheers  for  Perry  and  | 

three  cheers  for  the  P.  B.  C.  Now  then -A 

Wallace.  Wait  a minute.  Let’s  have  a special 
yell,  an  official  one,  something  like  this  {very  de-  ? 


THE  PERRY  BOYS. 


9 


Vherately  as  he  is  thinking  the  cheer  out)  Rah  I 
Rah!  Rah!  Perry!  Perry!  Perry!  P.  B.  C. 
Don't  Give  Up  the  Ship! 

Compton.  Great!  Come  on  now,  let's  try  it. 

{Give  yell,  Compton  leading  standing  on  a chair. 
Following  the  cheer,  there  is  a knock  at  the 
door  and  then  a head  is  thrust  cautiously  in 
and  quickly  withdrawn,  after  which  a pack- 
age is  thrown  in.) 

Herbert,  {calling  out  towards  the  door)  What's 
the  matter,  you  kid? 

{Several  hoys  rush  out  and  come  in  with  Mickie. 
Mickie  is  a typical  tough,  dirty,  tousled  and 
rough.) 

Jimmie.  What  you  want? 

Mickie.  Aw  go  long,  I don'  wan'  not'in',  see? 
Wallace.  Well,  what  are  you  doing  here,  then? 
Mickie.  {threateningly)  Look  out,  or  I'll  show 
y'u  what  I kin  do. 

Compton,  {picking  up  the  package)  Did  you 
bring  this? 

Mickie.  Sure  an'  didn't  y'u  see  me  bring  it? 
What's  the  matter  wi'  y'u  all?  Is  this  the  daffy 
house  ? 

{Boys  laugh.) 

Robert,  {officiously)  No,  this  is  not.  The 
truth  is,  my  young  friend,  we  thought  you  were 
daffy.  But  {pointing  to  the  package)  what's 
that,  a bomb? 

Mickie.  {disgustedly)  No,  it's  not  a bomb. 
It's  a rag  what  Robinson  sent  y'u.  I was  to  his 
playground  and  he  comes  up  to  me  and  he  says, 
‘‘  Mickie  will  yez  do  me  the  favor  to  take  this  out 
for  me,"  and  I did  it,  see? 


10 


THE  PERRY  BOYS. 


Wallace.  It’s  the  banner  of  course.  Let’s  have 
a look  at  it. 

{They  open  it  and  find  in  big  letters  DON’T  GIVE 
UP  THE  SHIP.) 

Thomas.  That’s  fine.  Say  {looking  around') 
we’re  getting  things  straightened  up  a bit,  aren’t 
we? 

Fletcher,  {turning  from  tacking  up  a pic- 
ture) Small  thanks  to  you. 

{While  the  boys  are  admiring  the  banner  Mickie 
strolls  around  and  examines  things.) 

Mickie.  {when  he  has  completed  his  tour  of 
investigation)  Some  swell  joint  you  have  here. 
What’cher  call  It? 

Alfred.  It’s  a club.  We’ve  decided  to  call  it 
the  P.  B.  C.  ^ - 

Mickie.  A club.  Humph!  It  ain’t  much  like 
ourn. 

Wallace.  You  have  a club,  too?  What’s  the 
name  of  yours? 

Mickie.  Aw,  we  ain’t  got  no  name.  It’s  just  a 
lot  of  us  newsboys  what  goes  round  together. 

Wallace.  What  do  you  do  to  make  yourselves 
a club?  Do  you  have  meetings  and  where  do  you 
hold  them  ? 

Mickie.  Sure  we  have  meetin’s — in  the  alley  ^ 
down  by  the  Palace  Saloon,  most  every  night.  We  ' 
don’t  have  no  other  place,  but  still  we  do  all  right 
except  when  the  cop  chases  us.  ^ 

Fletcher.  What  does  the  cop  chase  you  for?  :J 

Mickie.  {significantly)  Craps.  ] 

Compton.  Craps?  '■ 

Mickie.  {impatiently)  Yes,  craps.  Shootin*  ) 

craps.  Don’t  youse  guys  know  not’in’?  Like  I 
this — {he  starts  to  show,  but  Wallace  interferes).  | 


THE  PERRY  BOYS. 


Wallace.  Never  mind.  We  know  enough. 
And  you  mean  to  tell  us  that  all  your  club  does 
is  to  shoot  craps  and  that  it  meets  in  a saloon 
alleyway?  Goodness,  I should  think  you  would 
rather  go  down  to  the  library. 

Mickie.  You  make  me  sick.  Do  you  t’ink  we 
fellows  always  want  to  read?  But  you  don't  need 
to  rub  it  in  that  we  ain't  got  your  chances.  {Looks 
around  room  admiringly).  We  know  it.  But  wait 
until  we  get  a little  older  and  have  more  dough, 
why  then  we  can  go  to  a reg'lar  billiard  room 
or  pool  place  or  somethin^  like  that.  Until  then 
nobody  don'  need  to  shed  no  tears  over  us.  We 
kin  take  care  of  ourselves.  So  long,  kids,  I'm  off. 
I wish  you  luck  with  your  swell  fixin's  here. 

{Exit  Mickie,  with  a last  admiring  look  at  the 
room.  No  one  speaks  for  a few  minutes  after 
he  has  gone  and  then  Wallace  picks  up  the 
DON’T  GIVE  UP  THE  SHIP  banner  which 
has  been  lying  across  the  table.) 

Wallace.  Boys,  I think  weVe  found  our  ship. 

All.  What?  What?  What?  What  do  you 
mean? 

Wallace.  You  heard  what  he  said  about  his 
crowd  not  having  our  chances.  Well,  it's  true. 
Here  we  are  with  our  fine  club  room  and  look 
what  they  have. 

Alfred.  Well,  what  can  we  do  about  it? 

Fletcher,  {excitedly  breaking  in)  I see  what. 
Have  you  ever  heard  of  a Social  Center?  They 
had  one  where  I used  to  live,  a big  room  with  games 
and  all  sorts  of  fun.  Sometimes  they  have  a whole 
building  and  give  entertainments  and  everything  is 
free  and  everybody  can  come  and  do  what  they 
want.  It's  really  a big  club  for  people  who  haven't 
any. 

Compton.  That’s  the  idea.  Our  ship  shall  be 
The  Social  Center.  We'll  start  a crusade  to  get  a 


12 


JHE  PERRY  BOYS, 


club  for  Mickie  and  his  gang.  He’s  right,  too. 
Where  can  the  fellows  in  Arlington  go  on  an  even- 
ing if  they  haven’t  got  the  money  to  start  a club 
like  ours? 

Jimmie.  My  mother’d  say  they’d  better  stay 
home  and  go  to  bed. 

Thomas.  Yes,  but  they  won’t,  not  all  kinds  of 
fellows. 

Herbert.  What  I don’t  see  is,  how  we’re  going 
to  help. 

Wallace.  We  can  get  up  an  entertainment  and — ' 
Oh,  I don’t  know,  but  when  the  people  start  talking 
it’ll  be  easy  enough. 

Steven.  Great!  We’ll  give  a show.  Perhaps 
some  kind  of  a Perry  show.  Robinson  will  help 
us,  and  we’ll  talk  and  talk  and  talk  about  the  need  of 
a club  for  Mickie.  Our  ship  will  be  a warship  and 
{deliver  very  dramatically  at  front  of  stage  and 
more  or  less  directly  at  the  audience)  we’ll  dis- 
charge bombs  of  social  center  arguments,  here — ‘ 
and  there— and  there — {pointing  at  sections  of  the 
audience).  We’ll  go  right  out  and  make  things  hot 
and  after  a time  our  bombs  will  explode  and  the 
first  thing  you  know,  there  won’t  be  any  street 
corner  club. 

{During  this  speech  Wallace  has  been  quietly 
hanging  the  DON’T  GIVE  UP  THE  SHIP 
banner  in  a conspicuous  place  left  for  it  in 
the  center  of  the  back  wall.  The  room  should 
now  be  wholly  settled  and  when  Steven  has 
finished  speaking,  Wallace  turns  around  on 
the  ladder  after  having  adjusted  the  last  tack. ) 

Wallace,  {pointing  to  the  flag)  Our  flag! 
Our  battle  cry!  The  engagement  is  on.  Three 
cheers  for  Perry— Come  now 

{CuHain  as  the  cheer  given  before,  is  repeated,^ 


^13 


THE  PERRY  BOYS, 

SCENE  II. 

A DAY  WITH  PERRY. 
launching  the  ship/^ 

Scene  II.  This  is  a part  of  the  entertainment  which 
The  Perry  Boys  Club'^  gives.  The  scene 
represents  one  of  Perry'^s  temporary  camps 
on  the  shores  of  Lake  Erie  in  the  spring  of 
1813,  in  the  early  morning.  A very  pretty 
setting  may  be  made  by  clearing  the  stage  of  all 
furniture  and  then  lining  it  at  the  extreme  back 
and  sides  with  young  trees  in  full  leaf.  Erect 
also  at  the  back,  left,  a small  tent;  at  the  back, 
rights  a camp  fire,  fashioned  by  laying  sticks 
over  a light  with  red  shades.  Hang  over  this 
a kettle  on  a tripod.  The  trees  may  be  made 
to  stand  up  by  the  use  of  ordinary  ChrisU 
mas  tree  standards  which  should  be  covered 
up  with  brush.  If  for  any  reason  trees  are 
not  obtainable,  a plain  setting  with'  the  tent 
and  fire  will  do  very  well.  At  the  front  right, 
a small  flag  pole — 12  feet  or  so  high — should 
be  erected.  All  during  this  scene  the  lights 
should  be  kept  low  to  give  the  effect  of  dawn. ' 

Before  the  rise  of  curtain  the  reveille  is  heard.  The 
curtain  parts  disclosing  the  camp  with  Robert 
and  Alfred  seated  cross  legged  by  the  fire. 
Enter  Thomas  and  Steven  with  the  flag. 
They  go  to  the  pole  and  raise  the  flag,  Rob- 
ert and  Alfred  standing  up  and  saluting.  It 
should  be  so  arranged  that  the  flag  will  bd 
raised  just  as  the  reveille,  played  off  stage^ 
is  finished.  Exit  Steven  and  Thomas. 


14  THE  PERRY  BOYS. 

Beside  the  properties  already  described  there  are 
needed  for  this  scene  the  flag  with  which  the 
two  boys  enter,  a drum  and  the  ‘'official 
papers^'  with  which  Fletcher  should  be 
provided  as  called  for. 

Robert.  What  time  is  Lieutenant  Perry  ex- 
pected ? 

Alfred.  About  six  this  morning.  That  must 
be  pretty  soon.  This  is  his  first  stop. 

Robert.  Is  he  going  to  visit  all  of  the  stations 
to-day  ? 

Alfred.  I believe  so. 

Robert.  Why  does  he  have  them  scattered,  do 
you  suppose?  I should  think  one  big  camp  would 
have  been  safer. 

Alfred.  Well,  this  is  only  a very  temporary 
arrangement  until  he  gets  things  in  running  order. 
It  would  take  more  men,  you  see,  to  cover  all  this 
ground  in  here.  Pretty  soon,  in  a few  days  at  the 
most,  the  Pennsylvania  militia  will  be  here  on  guard 
and  then  things  will  be  different.  As  it  is  now 
there  is  one  camp  here,  another  here,  another  here, 
another  here,  and  so  on,  nine  in  all,  each  with  its 
force  of  men,  and  all  within  a very  short  radius. 
Of  course,  at  present  the  camps  are  nothing  but 
carpentry  shops,  for  all  the  time  is  spent  in  build- 
ing the  fleet,  each  camp  having  to  build  one  ship. 

Robert,  And  just  as  soon  as  more  men  are 
secured  we’re  going  to  be  united  into  one  big 
organization?  I see.  There  are  going  to  be  some 
new  recruits,  aren’t  there,  to-day? 

Alfred.  Yes.  That’s  what  the  Lieutenant  is 
coming  for,  to  see  them.  He’s  had  his  officers  out 
trying  to  enlist  the  farmers  round-about  and  they 
are  to  report  to  him  here  this  morning,  bringing 
the  new  men  with  them.  Perry  doesn’t  want  fight- 
ers so  much  now,  as  he  does  workers,  who  can 
cut  trees,  saw  wood  and  hammer. 


THE  PERRY  BOYS. 


.15 

(As  he  finishes  speaking  there  is  the  sound  of  some 
one  coming.  Enter  Steven.  Alfred  and 
Robert  rise,  and  salute  him.  The  salute  is 
returned.) 

Steven.  Lieutenant  Perry. 

(They  all  fall  back  to  the  side  in  a straight  line 
and  Perry  (Herbert)  enters  and  comes  slow- 
ly up  past  them.  The  three  hoys  hold  the 
salute,  Perry  touching  his  cap  in  acknowl- 
edgment. ) 

Perry.  Have  my  aides  arrived  yet? 

Steven.  One  is  here,  sir,  awaiting  you,  and  the 
others  are  expected  any  moment. 

Perry.  Order  the  present  one  to  me. 

Steven.  Very  good,  sir. 

(Ejcit  Steven.  He  returns  almost  immediately 
with  Thomas.  Thomas  salutes  Perry.) 

Perry.  Well,  sir,  what  success? 

Thomas.  I have  twenty  men,  sir,  at  your  com- 
mand, 

Perry.  Very  good.  You  may  order  them  to 
Camp  B to  work  under  Ford  on  the  ship  Niagara. 

Thomas.  Very  well,  sir. 

Perry.  Have  you  made  any  selections  from  the 
number  of  superior  men  as  I asked. 

Thomas.  I have  sir.  There  are  four  men  bet- 
ter than  the  others.  They  are  now  getting  into 
their  uniforms. 

Perry.  Send  them  to  me. 

Thomas.  I will  do  so.  And  the  others? 

Perry.  You  will  set  to  work  on  the  ship  Niagara 
in  Camp  B as  I have  said.  Go  now. 

(Exit  Thomas.  Enter  Wallace,  Fletcher, 
Compton  and  Jimmie.  Three  of  these  boys 


i6  THE  PERRY  BOYS.  . 

have  no  idea  as  to  proper  military  conduct. 
One  of  them  bows  very  low  and  awkwardly 
before  Perry^  another  takes  off  his  hat,  the 
third  does  nothing  but  stare.  The  fourth  only, 
(Fletcher)  salutes  properly.) 

Perry.  Are  you  the  men  my  officer  has  selected? 

Fletcher.  We  are,  sir.  {very  properly) 

Perry.  Have  you  had  military  training — ^you 
sir — ^you — ^you — ^you — (pjointing  to  each,  to 

Fletcher  the  last,  and  getting  the  answer  '‘No’’ 
from  all  but  him.) 

Fletcher.  Just  a little,  sir,  In  a local  guard. 

Perry.  I suppose  your  records  have  all  been 
looked  up.  That  v^as  my  order,  {he  turns  to 
Steven) 

Steven.  They  have,  sir.  In  so  far  as  possible. 

Perry.  Too  bad  you  haven’t  all  had  training. 
Let’s  see  if  you  are  going  to  be  likely  pupils.  Line 
up.  Mark  time. 

{Grotesque  line  up.) 

Perry.  Pretty  bad. 

Wallace..  Maybe  we  aren’t  very  well  drilled,  _ 
but  we’re  loyal.  We’ll  do  anything  for  you. 

Perry,  {moved)  That’s  what  I need,  too,  loy- 
alty. I have  a very  ticklish  commission  for  you 
four  men.  I am  choosing  you  because  you  are 
new  and  those  who  undertake  this  must  not  be 
known  as  members  of  my  guard.  I have  heard 
reports  to  the  effect  that  about  ten  miles  down  the 
shore  a British  ship  has  landed,  and  that  its  men 
are  even  now  advancing  upon  us  with  the  purpose 
of  devastating  our  camp  and  laying  waste  the  work 
of  these  hard  winter  months.  I want  that  report 
proved  or  disproved.  Are  you  good  for  it? 

{During  this  speech,  Fletcher  looks  startled  and 
uneasy,  drawing  away  a little  from  the  others.) 


JHE  PERRY  BOYS.  17 

All.  (Fletcher  the  most  emphatically  of  all) 
Yes. 

Perry.  Come  this  way  and  we  will  talk  things 
over  in  detail. 

N 

{Exit  Perry,  Fletcher,  Wallace,  Compton, 
Jimmie.) 

Alfred.  I don’t  like  the  sound  of  that.  A sur- 
prise by  the  British,  and  all  would  likely  be  ruined. 

Robert.  We’ve  had  our  warning.  Lieutenant 
Perry’ll  see  that  we  are  prepared.  Hark!  Who 
goes  there  ? 

{This  as  a noise  is  heard  back  of  the  tent. 
They  investigate  and  come  in  with  Mickie. 
While  representing  a character  of  1813  Mickie 
is  nevertheless  the  same,  kind  of  person  that 
he  is  in  the  first  act.) 

Alfred.  Explain  your  presence  here. 

Steven.  Yes  and  be  quick  about  it. 

Robert.  Hurry  1 Hurry  1 
Mickie.  {at  first  too  thoroughly  frightened  to 
reply ) There’s — ^there’s — I’ve — ^you— why — not’- 

in’.  I don’t  want  not’in’. 

Robert.  Well  this  is  not  the  place  to  find  it. 
You’ll  always  get  something  here,  spying  around. 

Mickie.  I wasn’t  spyin’,  honest  to  goodness  I 
wasn’t. 

Steven.  Tell  It  to  the  stars.  You  were  spy- 
ing. You’re  probably  a Britisher.  I’ve  a good  no- 
tion to  shoot  you  on  the  spot. 

(Perry  has  entered  and  heard  this  last.  He  comes 
up  and  looks  at  Mickie.) 


Perry.  What’s  the  trouble? 


i8 


THE  PERRY  BOYS. 


{Enter  Fletcher  who  stays  at  the  hack.  As  he 
sees  Mickie  he  starts  nervously.) 

Alfred,  {addressing  Perry)  We  caught  him 
{indicating  Mickie)  sneaking  around  in  the 
bushes. 

Mickie.  {falling  down  on  his  knees  before 
Perry)  Honest  I wasn’t  intendin’  not’in’.  I — I 
was  just  curious. 

Fletcher,  {coming  forward  to  Perry)  If  you 
will  pardon  me,  sir,  I will  vouch  for  this  man.  I 
know  him.  He’s  poor  but  {in  an  off-hand  man- 
ner) honest  enough,  I guess. 

Perry,  {suspiciously  looking  at  both  Fletcher 
and  Mickie)  Very  well.  But  I think  we’d  better 
keep  him  {pointing  to  Mickie)  here.  He  can 
help  the — the  cook. 

Steven.  Very  well,  sir.  I will  see  that  it  is 
done. 

Perry.  Come,  my  men. 

{Exit  all  but  Mickie  and  Fletcher.) 

Fletcher,  {angrily)  What  are  you  up  to  now ? 

Mickie.  {deliberately)  I’m  watchin’  you. 

Fletcher.  Well  you  can  just  quit  it  and  tend 
to  your  own  business,  do  you  understand. 

Mickie.  That’s  what  I intend  to  do.  I’m  after 
traitors. 

Fletcher.  That’s  a strong  word. 

Mickie.  I didn’t  ask  you  to  accept  it,  but  be 
careful,  that’s  all.  At  the  first  sign  of  your  play- 
in’ false.  I’ll  tell  Perry  who  and  what  you  are. 

Fletcher.  You  tell  him — ha — ha— ha.  {exit 
laughing  scornfully.  Mickie  follows  him  slowly). 

{Enter  Perry.  He  stands  and  gazes  into  the  fire.) 

Perry,  {very  slowly)  What  will  the  answer 


19 


THE  PERRY  BOYS. 

be?  For  three  long  months  now  we  have  been 
laboring  against  great  odds,  attempting  the  impos- 
sible, striving  to  make  out  of  the  trees  of  the  for- 
est and  such  material  as  Nature  furnishes  us  with — 
a fleet  with  which  to  protect  these  grand  shores  of 
this  great  nation.  “ Foolish,^’  our  enemies  say,  and 

Ridiculous."'  Well,  doubtless  it  is,  but  it  is  the 
fools  sometimes  that  turn  the  current  of  affairs. 
Who  knows — we  shall  have  the  boats  if  all  goes 
well;  we  have  courage  in  plenty.  With  such  a 
union  we  can  dare  much.  And  at  any  rate — we 
can  only  fail — and  die — ah — pshaw  {shaking  him^ 
self)  I am  blue  to-day — we're  bound  to  succeed ; 
we’re  right  and  who  ever  heard  of  might's  con- 
quering right 

{Continues  to  stare  into  the  fire.  In  the  meantime 
Mickie  has  entered  cautiously,  looking  care» 
fully  to  the  right  and  left.  Stops  when  he 
sees  Perry,  goes  forward,  hesitates  and  finally 
comes  up  to  him  doubtfully.) 

Mickie.  Sir. 

Perry,  {startled)  What!  {looking  around) 
Oh,  {indifferently)  it's  you,  is  it?  Well  what  do 
you  want  ? 

Mickie.  I — I want — I wanted  to  say  you've  got 
a spy  among  your  new  men. 

Perry.  .A  spy? 

Mickie.  Yep — yes,  sir,  I mean.  He's  that — that 
one  what  told  you  I was  all  right.  He  saved  me 
then  to  save  his  own  neck. 

Perry.  How  do  you  know  all  this  ? That  man's 
an  American. 

Mickie.  I know  he  is,  but  he  and  I used  to  live 
in  the  same  town  together  and  he  got  caught  help- 
in' the  Britishers  to  get  men,  United  States  men 
you  know,  and  he'd  swear  they  was  escapes  from 
the  English  navy.  Well,  after  they  found  that  out — • 


20  THE  PERRY  BOYS. 

that  was  back  in  Massachusetts — ^they  made  it  so 
hot  for  him  he  had  to  run  away,  and  he  did  and 
joined  the  English.  It  was  several  weeks  ago  when 
I started  out  from  near  Cleveland  to  come  up  here 
and  see  if  I couldn’t  be  one  of  your  workers  that 
I ran  into  him.  He  pretended  he  didn’t  know  me 
and  that  he  was  a loyal  United  States’r — but  it 
wan’t  no  use  and  when  he  saw  me  here  he  said 
what  he  did  because  he  knew  I’d  warn  you  and  he 
wanted  his  chance  to  get  away. 

Perry.  Why  didn’t  you  tell  me  all  this  at  the 
time  ? 

Mickie.  Well,  you  had  me  so  scared  I couldn’t 
talk.  I wasn’t  spyin’  for  the  English;  I was  spyin’ 
for  you,  to  see  what  that  man  was  goin’  to  do. 
You  want  to  hurry  or  he’ll  get  away.  That’s  what 
he  come  for.  I’m  sure,  to  give  some  sort  of  a signal 
to  the  red  coaters  when  it  would  be  a good  time 
for  ’em  to  rush  in. 

Perry,  {tragically)  I’ve  given  him  orders  and 
sent  him  away. 

Mickie.  My  gracious  ! That’s  what  he  wanted, 
{very  excited)  to  be  sent  away,  and  was  what 
you  give  him  valuable? 

Perry,  It  was  a notice  to  my  other  camps  of 
the  possible  attack  from  the  British,  warning  them 
to  be  on  their  guard.  Of  course,  he  won’t  deliver 
any  of  the  messages  if  what  you  say  is  true  and 
we’ll  be  lost. 

Mickie.  Something  must  be  done.  Quick ! 
Give  me  some  men.  He’s  afraider  of  me  than  of 
most  people  cause  I know  all  about  him.  I’ll  bring 
him  back.  He  can’t  have  gone  far. 

Perry,  {hesitatingly)  I — I believe  I’ll  trust 

you.  Come  and  I’ll  show  you  the  way  and  fix  you 
up  with  men. 

{Exit  hurriedly  Perry  and  Mickie.) 

{Enter  Wallace,  Compton,  and  Jimmie.) 


THE  PERRY  BOYS. 


21 


Wallace.  I wish  heM  hurry  up  and  tell  us  what 
to  do.  Fm  in  a fever  of  excitement  to  be  off,  aren't 
you? 

Jimmie.  Yes.  He  said  he'd  be  right  in  with  our 
orders.  That  other  man  has  already  got  his  and 
gone. 

(Wallace  and  Jimmie  sit  down.  Compton  looks 
around  the  camp  curiously  and  discovers  a 
drum  in  the  tent.) 

Compton,  {taking  out  the  drum)  Look  what 
I've  got  here,  {looks  around  secretively  and  finally 
taking  the  drumsticks  up  beats  the  drum  several 
times  loudly  in  an  inquiring  sort  of  way.) 

Note. — If  the  part  of  Compton  can  he  played  by 
some  one  who  knows  how  to  play  the  drum  it 
will  be  very  ejfective  to  introduce  here  instead 
of  the  drum  beating,  a regular  drum  solo. 

{Enter  Perry  after  the  sound  of  the  drum.) 

Perry.  What  was  that?  Oh,  you.  {as  he  sees 
Compton  still  with  the  drum)  I thought  they  were 
upon  us. 

Wallace.  {frightened)  Upon  us?  What? 
Who? 

Perry.  We  are  in  danger  of  attack.  I have  de- 
cided not  to  send  you  off  on  the  commission  I had 
spoken  of,  for  the  rumors  of  the  British  landing 
are  even  now  confirmed.  I shall  need  you  to  fight, 
most  likely.  Go  down  to  the  third  tent  and  wait 
for  me  there. 

{Exit  Compton,  Wallace,  Jimmie.  Almost  im- 
mediately there  is  the  sound  of  shouting,  at 
first  softly  as  if  far  away  then  growing  louder. 
Then  enter  Alfred,  Tfiomas,  Robert,  Steven^ 


22 


THE  PERRY  BOYS. 


Fletcher,  Compton,  Wallace,  Jimmie  and 
Mickie.  Fletcher,  bound,  is  being  led  by 
Mickie  in  triumph,) 

Mickie.  {going  up  to  Perry  with  Fletcher) 
Here  he  is,  sir.  Search  ’im. 

Perry,  {searching)  Her^e  are  my  papers,  {re- 
moving papers  from  Fletcher's  pockets) — and 
these — what  are  these — communications  bearing  the 
seal  of  the  British  government  and  addressed  to  the 
officer  in  charge  of  the  English  squadron — I must 
examine  these.  Humph!  {looks  at  papers), 

Steven,  {to  Robert)  Who  found  out  about 
the  traitor? 

Robert.  That  fellow  there  {points  to  Mickie). 
And  he  caught  him  too.  Gee,  but  he's  a hustler. 

Steven,  {very  deliberately  as  upon  this  hinges 
the  thought  of  the  piece)  It's  always  that  way. 
Give  fellows  like  him  a chance  and  that's  all  they 
need — a chance. 

Perry.  Attention,  my  men. 

{The  boys  group  themselves  on  stage.  Perry  at 
back  and  the  others  in  parallel  lines  from  back 
to  front,) 

Perry.  We  have  been  in  grave  danger.  It  has 
been  averted  for  the  time  being  by  the  tact  and  cour- 
age of  a man  whom  we  suspected.  I learn  from 
these  dispatches  that  there  is  no  likelihood  of  an 
attack  for  some  few  days  at  any  rate.  It  was  the 
intention  of  the  English  to  await  the  return  of  this 
hireling  here  {pointing  to  Fletcher)  with  the  in- 
formation they  wanted  as  to  our  equipment.  We'll 
see  that  they  don't  get  the  information  and  the  fail- 
ure of  their  messenger  to  return  will  likely  cause 
delay.  In  the  meantime  we'll  get  ready  for  them  so 
that  when  the  attack  is  made,  they'll  be  the  ones 


23 


THE  PERRY  BOYS. 

surprised.  We^ll  send  a message  to  the  other  eight 
stations — and  this  time  we’ll  send  our  new  recruit 
{pointing  to  Mickie).  And  now,  men,  to  your 
posts. 

{Line  up  and  very  short  drill,  any  little  military 
drill  will  do,  which  Perry  and  Mickie  watch. 
Fletcher  hound,  back  by  the  tent.  At  the 
close  of  the  maneux^ers,  the  boys  all  exit, 
Perry,  his  arm  around  Mickie,,  following  at 
some  distance.  Curtain  down  with  Fletcher, 
hanging  his  head,  alone  on  the  stage.) 

Follow  immediately  with  Tableau: — Night. 
Before  rise  of  curtain  bugle  sounds  ‘‘  Taps.”  Cur- 
tain rises  showing  all  the  boys  grouped  around  the 
flag  pole  while  the  flag  is  lowered. 


SCENE  III. 

/^THE  ENEMY  IS  OURS.*’ 

Scene  III. — Same  as  Scene  I.  A few  days  after  the 
entertainment.  The  club  room  in  good  order, 
attractively  furnished  and  decorated.  Alfred, 
Wallace,  Robert,  Steven,  Herbert,  Thomas, 
Jimmie  and  Fletcher  on  stage  at  rise  of  cur- 
tain. 

Fletcher.  How’d  we  come  out  in  the  Perry 
show,  Fred!  Have  you  got  it  figured  up  yet? 

Alfred.  Oh,  pretty  well.  I guess  we’ll  have 
about  $ioo  clear. 

Herbert.  And  now  what  are  we  going  to  do? 
We  mustn’t  stop. 

Wallace.  We  don’t  intend  to.  We’re  going 


24  THE  PERRY  BOYS. 

right  ahead  to  get  a building,  only  of  course  we  ; 
haven’t  money  enough  to  rent  it  for  long.  I think, 
though,  that  when  people  see  we’re  in  earnest  there’ll 
be  help  coming  from  somewhere. 

{Enter  Compton.) 

Compton,  {importantly')  AVhat  s that  about 
help  from  somewhere?  You  don’t  know  anything 
about  it.  I’ve  been  having  some  experiences  since 
I left  you  a little  while  ago. 

Herbert.  Tell  ’em  to  us. 

Compton.  Give  me  a chance,  will  you?  Well, 
in  the  first  place  I started  out  to  go  down  town 
and  as  I passed  the  Palace  Saloon  Mickie  rushed 
out  from  the  alley  and  grabbed  me.  “ Come  here,” 
he  said,  hauling  me  back  into  the  corner  and  there 
I found  his  gang.  A tough  bunch,  too,  believe  me. 

“ What’s  all  this  guff  about  a club  for  us,”  one  of 
’em  growls  at  me.  I explain  calmly  and  as  best  I 
can.  “ Listen  to  the  bluffer,”  another  one  yells 
and  so  it  goes,  first  one  hollering  something  and 
then  another,  and  all  of  ’em  laughing  at  the  idea 
of  a club,  sneering  at  it,  you  know,  and  holding  that 
they’re  all  right  as  they  are.  It  made  me  sore. 

Steven.  Probably  they  didn’t  mean  it.  Most 
likely  they  were  quite  excited. 

Alfred.  Gee,  that  certainly  makes  it  hard.  If 
they  don’t  want  to  have  things  done  for  ’em. 

Robert.  I’ve  always  heard  it  was  that  way 
with  that  kind  of  folks — they  prefer  to  be  let  alone. 

Wallace.  I don’t  believe  it.  Not  if  they  really 
understand.  Prefer  dirt  and  an  alley-way  and  all 
the  rest  of  the  rottenness?  Bah — that  isn’t  reason. 

Compton.  Well,  when  you  get  through  scrap- 
ping I’ll  tell  you  the  rest,  the  best  yet. 

Thomas.  Tell  away,  little  one,  tell  away.  We  re 

all  attention.  -.t-  i • > 

Compton.  I finally  escaped  from  them,'Mickie  s 


THE  PERRY  BOYS. 


25 


gang,  you  know,  but  a few  minutes  later  I ran  into 
Robinson  as  I was  walking  up  Midland  Avenue. 
He  was  all  excited  like  and  clapped  me  on  the 
shoulder  and  shouted,  ''  Well,  you've  done  it,  old 
boy,  you  and  your  P.  B.  C.’’  Done  what  ? " I said. 

Got  'em  going,"  he  answered.  ‘‘  All  they  needed 
was  a light  to  start  the  fire;  the  fuel  was  there. 
The  P.  B.  C.  was  the  light."  And  then  he  explains 
that — he  explains  that — (pause  tantalizingly) , 

Robert.  Go  along.  Stop  your  fooling. 

Thomas.  Yes,  cut  it  and  get  down  to  the  facts. 

Compton.  He  explains  that  our  movement  and 
the  play  and  all,  have  called  attention  to  the  need 
of  a Recreation  Hall  in  the  lower  end  of  the  town 
and  that  already  one  man  has  come  forward  and 
offered  a building  free  for  the  cause  and  others 
have  agreed  to  furnish  it  and  to  help  pay  its  run- 
ning expenses. 

Wallace,  (dumbfounded)  For  mercy's  sake. 
{recovering  his  composure  quickly)  Well,  isn't 
that  what  I said?  Get  people  talking,  make  'em 
see  what's  wanted,  and  that's  all  you  need  to  do. 

Compton.  The  best  part  of  it,  for  us  anyway, 
is  that  it's  all  going  to  be  done  through  the  P.  B.  C. 
The  building  is  going  to  be  given  to  us  and  every- 
thing run  through  us.  We're  sort  of  to  father  the 
scheme. 

All.  Whew ! 

Alfred.  Well,  the  first  experiment  of  our  club 
seems  to  be  turning  out  fairly  successfully. 

Herbert.  I should  say  it  is. 

Wallace.  But  we  mustn't  rest  on  that ; we  must 
keep  things  humming.  The  old  people  have  come 
to  our  aid  as  they  always  do, — A cheer  for  the  old 
people. 

All.  (Wallace  leading)  Old  People,  Hurrah! 
Hurrah!  Hurrah!  Old  People. 

Fletcher.  We  must,  however,  show  them  that 


26 


THE  PERRY  BOYS. 


we  can  do  our  part  in  carrying  the  campaign  ? 
through.  Remember  Mickie.  We  have  him  yet  to 
deal  with. 

Compton.  Oh  yes,  Mickie.  We  may  have  him 
personally  to  deal  with  right  off.  He  said  he  was 
coming  up  here  to  see  us  this  afternoon. 

Alfred.  Good,  let  him  come.  Fellows,  we  must 
make  him  like  us,  treat  him  nicely  as  though  he 
were  one  of  us.  Nobody  wants  the  Lady  Bountiful 
act  passed  out  to  him. 

{There  is  a loud  knock  at  the  door.) 

Jimmie.  I’ll  bet  that’s  Mickie  now. 

Wallace.  Come  in. 

{Enter  Mickie.  The  boys  rush  around  him, 
shaking  his  hand.  Mickie  does  not  respond, 
but  regards  them  all  suspiciously.) 

Thomas.  Glad  to  see  you.  You  haven’t  been 
up  here  for  ages. 

Steven.  Drop  in  any  old  time. 

Mickie.  {doubtfully)  Are  youse  guys  on  the 
level?  I thought  youse  was  handin’  me  the  merry 
ha,  ha,  the  last  time  I was  here.  _ i • 

Compton,  (^stretcjiing  out  his  hand)  Mickie, 
we’re  your  friends — your  friends.  We  want  you  to 
be  ours. 

Mickie.  Honest? 

Compton.  Honest.  Isn’t  that  so,  fellows . 

.A-Ll  "Y"es. 

Mickie.  Friend,  then,  {takes  his  hand)  But 
what  I came  fur  was  to  find  out  about  this  here  club 
you’re  gettin’  us.  Is  it  goin’  to  be  a reg  lar  club  or 
just  a sort  of  church  where  we’re  to  be  preached 

at  ? , 

Compton.  A regular  club — ^that  is  if  you’ll  let 
us,  a club  where  you  and  all  your  gang  can  go  and 


THE  PERRY  BOYS.  2.^ 

do  just  what  you  like.  But  I was  afraid  from  the 
way  they  acted  this  morning  that  they  didn’t  want 
such  a club. 

Mickie.  Want  it?  They’re  so  crazy  about  it 
they’re  losin’  sleep  for  fear  they  won’t  get  it.  Do 
you  suppose  we  don’t  know  a good  thing  when  we 
see  it — only  we  want  to  be  sure  we  see  it,  that’s 
all. 

Wallace.  What  did  I tell  you?  Mickie,  (^gen- 
ially) you’re  all  right.  Everybody’s  all  right.  Isn’t 
that  so  bunch? 

All.  (laughingly)  “ You  bet,”  " Yes,”  “ Sure,” 
etc. 

Compton.  Don*t  Give  Up  the  Ship!  Fine  words 
those  we  took  for  our  motto  but  no  finer  than  Perry’s 
famous  remark  after  his  victory.  , 

Herbert.  No,  and  we  can  say  those  words  with 
Perry  now.  (very  impressively)  We  have  met, 
the  enemy  and  they  are  ours. 

Mickie.  Enemy!  Who  was  your  enemy? 

Wallace.  There  wasn’t  any,  but  thoughtless- 
ness and  ignorance  and  carelessness,  but  sometimes 
they’re  the  very  worst  to  combat.  However,  folks 
aren’t  so  bad  after  all — ^you’ve  only  got  to  show 
’em. 

Mickie.  We’re  all  from  Missouri,  you  see. 

Wallace.  Boys,  here  it  is  more  than  one  hun- 
dred years  since  Perry  fought  his  great  fight,  but 
he’s  still  leading  people  on  to  good  accomplish- 
ments. It’s  a wonderful  thing — a life  that  lives  on 
like  that,  isn’t  it? 

Mickie.  It’s  a thing  what  makes  you  want  to 
try  to  do  things  and  be  somebody. 

Fletcher.  Let’s  all  salute  Perry’s  influence,  his 
spirit  of  perseverance,  of  cou/^e,  honor  and  man- 
liness, 

(The  boys  turn  and  salute  the  "Don't  Give  Up  the 
Ship  ” banner  still  hanging  on  the  wall.') 


28 


J'HE  PERRY  BOYS. 

Mickie.  {looks  around,  first  at  the  boys  un- 
comprehendingly,  then  at  the  banner  when  he  seems 
to  understand)  And  me,  too— me,  too.  {salutes 
also.) 


{Curtain  while  salute  is  held.) 

CURTAIN. 


w 


A mw  mscmPTfvm 


{French*  s Standard  Drama  Continued  from  page  of  Cover.) 


VOL.  XU. 

The  Pirate’s  Legacy 
The  Charcoal  burner 
Adelgitha 
Senor  Valiente 
Forest  Rose 
Duke’s  Daughter 
Camilla’s  Husba^^i 
Pure  Cold 

VOL.  XLII. 
Ticket  of  Leave  Man 
Fool’s  Revenge 
O’Neil  the  Great 


Fanchon 
Little  Barefoot 
Wild  Irish  Girl 
VOL.  XLIII. 

Pearl  of  Savoy 

iDead  Heart 
Ten  Nights  in  a Bar-room 
Dumb  Boy  of  Manchester 
Belphegor  the  Mounteb’k 
il  Cricket  on  the  Hearth 
j Printer’s  Devil 
ij  Meg’s  Diversion 


VOL.  XLIV. 

345  Drunkard’s  Doom 

346  Chimney  Comer 

347  Fifteen  Years  of  a Drunk- 

348  No  Thoroughfare  f ard’s 

349  Peep  O’  Day 

350  Everybody’s  Friend 
35l^en.  Grant 
35Aiathleen  Mavourneen 

VOL.  XLV. 

363  Nick  Whiffles 

354  Fruits  of  the  Wine  Cup 

35b  Drunkard’s  Warning 

356  Temperance  Doctor 

357  Aant  Dinah 

368  Widow  FreehearS 
^9  Frou  Frou 
360  Long  Strike 

VOL.  XLVL 

Larcers 

362  Lu'  ille 

363  Randall’s  Thumlh 

364  Wicked  World 

365  Tv/o  Orphans 

366  Colleen  Bawn 

367  ’Twixt  Axe  and  Crown 

368  Lady  Clancarthy 


VOL.  XLVUo 
. _ Saratoga 

370  Never  Too  Late  to  Mend 

371  Lily  of  France 

372  Led  Astray 

373  Henry  V 

374  Unequal  Match 

375  May  or  Doily’*  Delfiksion 

376  Allatoona 

VOL.  XLVIII. 

377  Enoch  Arden 

378  Under  the  Gas  Light 

379  Daniel  Rochat 

380  Caste 

381  School 
3«2  Home 

383  David  Garrick 

384  Ours 

VOL.  KWL 

385  Social  Glas^i 

386  Daniel  Oruce 

387  Two  Roses 

388  Adrienne 

389  The  BelU 

390  Uncle 

391  Courtship 

392  Not  Such  a idol 


VOL.  U 

Fine  Feathers 
394  Prompter’s  Bot 
396  Iron  Master 
396  Engaged 
387  Pygmalion  & ’ 

398  Leah 

Scrap  of  Paper 

400  Lost  in  London 

VOL.  LL 

401  Octoroon 

402  Confederate  Spy 

403  Mariner’s  Return 

404  Ruined  by  Drink 

405  Dreams 
406;  M.  P. 

407  War 

408  Birth 

VOL.  LSL 

409  Nightingale 

410  Progress 

411  Play 

412  Midnight  Charge 

413  Confidential  Clerk 

414  Snowball 

415  Our  Regimenv 

416  Married  for  Money 
Hamlet  in  Three  Acte 
Guttle  A Gulpit 


IRENCH’S  INTERNATIONAL  COPYRIGHTED  EDITION 
OF  THE  WORKS  OF  THE  BEST  AUTHORS. 

The  following  very  successful  plays  have  just  been  Issued  at  25  cents  per  copy. 


PAIR  OF  SPECTACLES.  Comedy  in  3 Acts 
y SYDNhY  Grundy,  author  of  “Sowing  the  Wind,’ 
See.  8 male,  8 female  characters. 

[POOL’S  PARADISE.  An  original  play  in  3 
Lets  by  SvDNiiY  Gkum'Y,  author  of  “Sowing  the 
^ind,”  Ac.  5 male,  4 female  characters. 

I^E  SILVER  SHIELTD.  An  original  comedy  in 
Acts  by  Sydney  Grundy^  author  of  “Sowing  the 
Viad,”  Ac.  5 male,  3 female  characters. 

IE  GLASS  OP  FASHION.  An  original  com- 
dy  in  4 Acts  by  Syonky  (Irundy,  author  of  “Sowing 
hp  Wind,”  Ac.  5 male.  5 female  characters. 


THE  B ALLOON.  Farcical  comedy  In  3 Acts  by  J. 
H.  DxRNz.Ek  and  Manville  Fsnn.  6 male,  4 female 
characters. 

MISS  t LEOPATRA.  Farce  In  3 Acts  by  Abthub 
SHJRLEy.  7 male,  3 female  characters. 

SIX  PERSONS.  Comedy  Act  by  I.  Zangwill. 
1 male,  1 female  character. 

FASHIONABLE  INTELLIGENCE.  Comedi- 
etta in  1 Act  by  Percy  Fendalr.  1 male,  1 female 
cha  .•acter. 

HIGHLAND  LEGACY.  Comedy  In  I Act  by 
Brandon  Thomas,  author  of  Charley’*  Aunt,” 
5 male,  2 female  characters. 


Contents  of  Catalogue  which  is  sent  Free* 


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Webster’s  Acting  Edition 
Wigs,  etc^ 


) 


{French*  s Minor  Drama  Continued  from  4th  page  of  Cover.) 

XLTII. 


VOL  XLT. 

Adventures  of  a Love 
' ost  Child  [Letter 

Court  Cards 
Cox  and  Box 
forty  Winks 
Wonderful  Woman 

Curious  Case  1 livpiiy  ; »u 

Tweedleton’s  Tail  Coat  *336  My  Turn  Next 


VOL.  XLTI. 

.329  As  Like  as  Two  Peas 

330  Presumptive  Evidence 

331  Happy  Band 

332  Pinafore 
3-33  Mock  Trial 

3,34  My  Uncle’s  Will 
.3.35  Happy  Pair 


VOL. 

.3.37  Sunset 

338  For  Half  a Million 

339  C ible  Car 

340  Early  Bird 
.341  Alumni  Play 
342  Show  of  Hands 
1.343  Barbara 

1 344  Who’s  Who 


VOL.  XLIV. 

345  Who’s  To  Win  Him 
.346  Which  is  Which 
347  Cup  of  Tea 
34S  Sarah’s  Young 

349  Hearts 

350  In  Honor  Bound  [Law 

351  Freezing  a Mother-in- 
362  My  Lord  In  Livery 


AMUEL  FRENCH,  28-30  West  38th  Street.  New  Yoric  CitJ 


® iXlliXUlv 

Price  15  Cents  eacho— Bound  Volumes  $1.25* 


VOL.  I. 

1 TSie  Irish  Attorney 

2 Boots  at  the  Swan 

3 How  to  Pay  the  Rent 

4 The  lioan  of  a Love? 

5 The  Dead  Shot 

6 His  Last  l.egs 

7 The  Invisible  Prince 
S The  Golden  Farmer 

VOL.  II. 

9 Pride  of  the  Market 
30  Used  Up 
11  The  Irish  Tutor 
19  The  Barrack  Room 
13  Luke  the  Laborer 
34  Beauty  and  the  Beast 

15  St.  Patrick’s  Eve 

16  Captain  of  the  W atch 

VOL.  III.  , 

17  The  Secret 

18  White  Horse  of  «>e  Pep- 

19  The  JaccbitO 

20  The  Bottle 

21  Box  and  CoX 

22  Bamboozling 

23  Widow’s  Victim, 

24  Robert  Macairs 

VOL.  iV. 

25  Secret  Servic# 

26  Omnibus 

27  Irish  Lion 

28  Maid  of  Croissy 

29  The  Old  Guardi 

30  Raising  the  Wind 

31  Slasher  and  Crasher 

32  Naval  Engagernemt* 

VOL.  V. 

33  Cocknies  in  Californi#. 

34  Who  Speaks  First 

35  Bombastes  Furioso 

36  Macbeth  Travestie 

37  Irish  Ambassador 

38  Delicate  Ground 

39  The  Weathercock  £Qold 

40  All  that  Glitters  is  Not 

VOL.  VI. 

41  Grimshaw,  Bagshaw  and 

Bradshaw 

42  Rough  Diamond 

43  Bloomer  Costume 

44  Two  Bonnycastles 

45  Bom  tc  Good  Luck 

46  Kiss  in  the  Dark  fjurer 

47  ’Twould  Puzzle  ft  Con- 

48  Kill  or  Cure 

VOL.  VII. 

49  Box  and  Cox  Married  and 

50  St.  C ipid  ^Settled 

61  Go-tc-bed  Tom 

52  The  Lawyers 

53  Jack  Shepparl 

54  The  I’oodles 

55  The  T lobeap 

56  Ladies  Beware 

VOL.  VIII, 

57  Morning  Call 

58  Popping  the  Questieft 

59  Deaf  as  a Post 

60  Ne  ,v  Footman 

61  Pleasant  Neighb®? 

32  Paddy  the  Piper 

63  Brian  O’Linn 

64  Irish  Assurance 

VOL.  IS 

65  Temptation 

66  Paddy  Carey 

67  Two  Gregones 

68  King  Charm  inf 

69  Po-ca-hon-tas 

70  Clockmaker’s  Ka^» 

71  Married  Rake 

72  Love  and  Murder 

VOL.  X. 

73  Ireland  and  A'^erica 

74  Pretty  Piece  of  Business 

75  Irish  Broom-maker 

76  To  Paris  and  Back  for 

Blve  Pounds 
7’*  That  Blessed  Baby 

78  Our  Gal 

79  Swiss  CcttagfS 

80  Young  Wido5» 


VOL.  XI. 

81  O’Flanniganand  the  Fa!- 

82  Irish  Post  [ries 

83  My  Neighbor’*  Wife 

84  Irish  Tiger 

85  P.  P.,  or  Man  and  Tiger 
S6  Tc  Oblige  Benson 

87  State  Secrets 

88  Irish  Yankee 

VOL.  XII, 

89  A Good  Fellow 

90  Cherry  and  Fair  Star 

91  Gale  Breezely 

92  Oar  Jemimy 

93  Millerb  Maid 

94  Awkward  Arrival 

95  Crossing  the  Line 

96  Conjugal  Jjesson 

- VOL.  XIII. 

97  My  Wife’s  Mirror 

98  Life  in  New  York 

99  Middy  Ashore 

100  Crown  Prince 

101  Two  Queens 

102  Thumping  Legacy 

103  Unfinished  Gentleman 

104  House  Dog 

VOL.  XIV. 

105  The  Demoo  Lover 

106  Matrimony 

107  In  and  Out  of  Place 

108  I Dine  with  My  Mother 

109  Hi-a-wa-tha 

110  Andy  Blake 

111  Love  in ’76 

112  Romance  under  Dimcul 
VOL.  XV. 

113  One  Coat  for  2 Suite 

114  A Decided  Case 

115  Daughter  fnority 

116  No;  or,  the  Glorious  Mi- 
ll? Coroner’s  Inquisition 

118  Love  in  Humble  Idfe 

119  Family  Jars 

120  Personation 

VOL.  XVI. 

121  Children  in  the  Wood 

122  Winning  a Husband 

123  Day  After  the  Fair 

124  Make  Your  Wills 
126  Rendezvous 

126  My  Wife’s  Husband 

1 27  Monsieur  Tonsoa 

128  Illustrious  Stranger 

I VOL.  XVII. 

'129  Mischief-Making  [Mi  nes 

130  A Live  Woman  in  the 

131  The  Corsair 

132  Shylock 

133  Spoiled  Child 

134  Evil  Eye 

135  Nothing  to_NarsB 

136  Wanted  » Widow 
VOL.  xvm. 

137  Lottery  Ticket 

138  Fortune’s  Frolic 

139  Is  he  Jealous? 

140  Married  Bachelor 

141  Husband  at  Sight 

142  Irishman  in  London 

143  Animal  Magnetism 

144  Highways  and  By-W  ftys 

VOL.  XIX. 

145  Columbus 

146  Harlequin  Bluebeard 

147  Ladies  at  Home 

148  Phanomenon  in  a Smock 

Frock 

14a  Comedy  acd  Tragedy 

150  Opposite  Neighbors 

151  Dutchman’s  Ghost 

152  Persecuted  Dutchman 

VOL.  XX. 

153  Musard  Ball 

154  Great  Tragic  Revival 

155  High  Low  Jack  A Game 

156  A Gentleman  from  Ire- 

167  Tom  and  Jerry 

168  Village  Lawyer 

159  Captain’s  not  A-miss 

160  Amateurs  and  Actors 


VOL.  XXI. 

161  Promotion  jfnal 

162  A Fascinating  Individ- 

163  Mrs.  Caudle 

164  Shakespeare’s  Dream 

165  Neptune’s  Defeat 

166  Lady  of  Bedchamber 

167  Take  Care  of  Little 

168  Irish  Widow  [Charley 

VOL.  XXII. 

169  Yankee  Peddler 

170  Hiram  Hireout 

171  Double-Bedded  Room 

172  The  Drama  Dei'^nded 

173  Vermont  Wool  Dealer 

174  Ebenezer  Venture  [ter 

175  Principles  from  Charac- 

176  Lady  of  the  Lake  (Trav) 

VOL.  XXIH. 

177  Mad  Dogs 

178  Barney  the  Baron 

179  Swiss  Swains 

180  Bachelor’s  Bedroom 

181  A Roland  for  an  Oliver 

182  More  Blunders  than  One 

183  Dumb  Belle 


VOL.  XXXI. 

241  Cool  as  Cucuml^ 

242  Sudden  Thoughte 

243  Jumbo  Jum 

244  A Blighted  Being 

245  Little  Toddlekius 

246  A Lover  by  Proxy  [p; 

247  Maid  with  the  Mllkii 


248 


249  Dr.  Dilworth 

250  Out  to  Nurse 

251  A Lucky  Hit 

252  The  Dowager 

253  Metamora  (BufUsqu^ 

254  Dreams  of  Delusion^ 

255  The  Shaker  Lovers 

256  Ticklish  Times 

VOL.  XXXIII. 

257  20  Minutes  with  a Tig 

258  Miralda;  or.  the  Just 

of  Tacon  . 

A Soldier’s  Courtsulg 


184  Limerjck 


260  Servants  by  Legac^ 

261  Dying  for  Love 

262  Alarming  Sacrifice 


VOL 

185  Nature  and  Philosophy 

186  Teddy  the  Tiler 

187  Spectre  Bridegroom 

188  Matteo  Falcone 

189  Jenny  Lind 

190  Two  Buzzards 

191  Happy  Man 

192  Betsy  Baker 
VOL,  XXV, 

N o.  1 Round  the  Comer 

194  Teddy  Roe 

195  Object  of  Interest 

196  My  Fellow  Clerk 

197  Bengal  Tiger 

198  Laughing  Hyena 

199  The  Victor  Vanquished 

200  Our  Wife 

VOL.  XXVI. 

201  My  Husband’s  Mirror 

202  Yankee  Land 

203  Norah  Creina 

204  Good  for  Nothing 

205  The  First  N ight 

206  The  Eton  Boy 

207  Wandering  Minstrel 

208  Wanted,  1000  Milliners 

VOL.  XXVIL 

209  Poor  Pilcoddy 

210  The  Mummy  [Glasses 

211  Don’t  Forget  your  Opera 

212  Love  in  Livery 

213  Anthony  and  Cleopatra 


263  Valet  de  Sham 

264  Nicholas  Nickleby ' 

VOL,  XXXI^. 

265  The  Last  of  the  Pin 

266  King  Rene’s  Daugh* 

267  The  Grotto  Nyinphl^ 

268  A Devilish  Good  Jok 

OAO  A T'nM  ^ 


214  Tr  jdng  It  On 
Stage  Si 


215  Stage  Struck  Yankee 

216  Young  Wife  & Old  Um- 
brella 


VOL.  xxvm. 

217  Crinoline 

218  A Family  Failing 

219  Adopted  Child 

220  Turned  Heads 

221  A Match  in  the  Dark 

222  Advice  to  Husbands 

223  Siamese  Twins 

224  Sent  to  the  Tower 

VOL.  XXIX. 

225  Somebody  Else 
2 '6  Ladles’  Battle 

227  Art  of  Acting 

228  The  Lady  of  the  Lions 

229  The  Rights  of  Man 

230  My  Husoand’s  Ghost 

231  Two  Can  Play  a.  that 
Game 


2 Fighting  bjPTOxy 


VOL. 

233  Unprotected  Female 

234  Pet  of  the  Petticoats 

235  Forty  and  Fifty  [book 

236  Who  Stole  the  Pocket,- 

237  My  Son  Diana  [sion 

238  Unwarrantable  I n t ' 

239  Mr.  and  M’-s.  White 

240  A Quiet  Family 


269  A Twice  Told  Tale  : 

270  Pas  de  Fascination  J 
•271  Revolutionary  Soldift 

272  A Man  Without  a Kf 
VOL.  XXXV. 

273  The  Olio,  Part  1 

274  The  Olio,  Part  2 

275  The  Olio,  Part  8 | 

276  The  Trumpeter’s  Dan 

277  Seeing  Warren 

278  Green  Mountain  Boy 

279  That  Nose 

280  Tom  Noddy’s  Secret 
VOL.  XXXVL 

281  Shocking  Events 

282  A Regular  Fix 

283  Dick  Turpin 

284  Young  Scamp 

-285  Young  Actress 
~ ~ Call  at  No.  1— T . 

One  Touch  of  Natoi 

288  Two  B’hoys  * 

VOL.  XXXVIL 

289  All  the  World’s  a Si 

290  Quash,  or  Nigger  f 

291  Turn  Him  Out  ? 

292  Pretty  Girls  of  Still. 

293  Angel  of  the  Attic  - 

294  C’rcumstancesalterl 

295  Katty  O’Sheal 

296  A Supper  in  Dixie 

VOL.  XXXVIII.  J 

297  Ici  on  Parle  Francai 

298  Who  Killed  Cock  R< 
Declaration  of  Indefi 


(French's  Minor  Drama  Continued  on  page  of  Cover.) 


Obstinate  Family 

302  My  Aunt 

303  That  Rascal  Pat 

304  Don  Paddy  de  Bacai 

VOL.  XXXIX.  1 

305  Too  Much  for  Good, 

306  Cure  for  the  Fidgete 

307  Jack’s  the  Lad  I 

308  Much  Ado  A boutNoi 

309  Artful  Dodger 

310  Winning  Hazard 

.31 1 Day’s  Fishing  J 

312  Did  vou  ev*-r  send  | 

VOL.  XL.  J 

313  An  Irishman’s  Man* 

314  Cousin  Fannie  J 

315  ’Tis  the  Darkest  Hoi 

316  Masquerade  [foreB 

317  Crowding  the  Scasd 

318  Good  Night’s  Rest 

319  Man  with  the  Carpa 

320  Terrible  Tinker  ] 


SAMUBL  FRENCH,  28-30  West  Street,  New  York  Cfityo 


• I'U 


